Afflink release 6.5

June 5, 2013

JanSan Distributors See Brighter Days Ahead
Growing Interest in Workloading

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A recent survey conducted by AlturaSolutions Communications (a Chicago-based communications and marketing firm) reports that nearly 57 percent of distributors believe the second half of 2013 will be better than the first half. (See notes on survey methodology below.)

Nine percent believe the remaining months of 2013 will get worse, while 35 percent do not expect any major changes either way.

According to these distributors, the market segment that has shown the greatest sales improvement this year over 2012 was “private offices” (41 percent). This was followed by:

The survey also asked distributors what market segments have declined compared to 2012. At the top of the list was education (33 percent), followed by government (24 percent). Making up the remainder were, in this order, hospitality, health care, and private offices.

“We were interested in finding out what add-on services end-customers are now asking of jansan distributors,” says Leah Runge, Marketing Director for AFFLINK’s eLev8® process (a Web-based analytical tool available for AFFLINK members that streamlines the ordering process and includes workloading capabilities).

“While a quarter of the distributors said the main add-on service they are asked to help end-customers with is floor care, the second-highest category [23 percent] was workloading,” adds Runge. “This is something we are increasingly focusing on with our members and their end-customers.

Workloading is a technique that allows cleaning workers and facility managers to more accurately determine staffing levels, costs, and cleaning needs in order to maintain a facility in the most cost-effective manner possible. ISSA now includes workloading as part of its Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) program.

“We were also pleased to see that most of the distributors [40 percent] said more end-customers are purchasing new equipment instead of repairing old machines,” adds Runge. “This is significant and shows [that] many end customers have greater confidence in the future as well.”

Notes on the Survey (optional for publication):

• The survey was conducted the first two weeks of May 2012.
• All percentages are rounded up and do not necessarily equal 100 percent.
• This is not a scientific survey. It is for informational purposes only.
• AlturaSolutions Communications emailed approximately 500 survey invitations to North American janitorial distributors. As of June 4, 81 distributors had completed the survey.

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AFFLINK (www.afflink.com) is the global leader in supply chain optimization, providing clients with innovative process and procurement solutions to drive efficiencies in today’s leading businesses. The eLev8 system helps organizations uncover never-before-seen opportunities and quantify their value to enhance their overall image, promote a healthy workplace, decrease total costs, increase productivity, and satisfy Green and sustainable objectives.